Abstract:
Methods for making multi-piece golf balls comprising at least one component made of ethylene-propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) rubber and the resulting balls are provided. The multi-piece golf ball includes a cover, preferably a dual-cover having inner and outer cover layers. The outer cover is preferably made of a liquid rubber composition based on liquid EPDM rubber. In one version, the ball sub-assembly is dipped in a bath containing liquid EPDM rubber to form the outer cover. In another version, a casting method is used and the liquid EPDM rubber is dispensed into mold cavities to form the outer cover. The inner core of the ball may be made of polybutadiene rubber and the outer core layer may be made of EPDM rubber. The resulting golf ball has high resiliency, a soft feel, and good weatherability.
Abstract:
Multi-piece golf balls containing a core of at least one layer and cover of at least one layer are provided. At least one component is formed from a rubber composition comprising: i) about 10 to about 65 weight percent of a cycloalkene rubber having a trans-content of about 55% or greater and a melting point of 30° C. or greater; ii) about 30 to about 80 weight percent of an ionomeric resin; and 3) about 5 to about 40 weight percent of a polyamide. The rubber composition may further include other thermoplastic and thermosetting materials such as, for example, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber. The rubber composition helps improve resiliency, durability, scuff-resistance, and feel of the ball.
Abstract:
Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyester composition containing a polyester thermoplastic elastomer and plasticizer are provided. The plasticizers help reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composition and various plasticizers may be used. For example, the composition may include alkyl oleate plasticizers such as ethyl oleate and octyl oleate. Polyester-ether block copolymers are particularly preferred. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyester composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball.
Abstract:
Golf balls containing a core having at least two layers made from a polyalkenamer rubber composition are provided. At least one layer is made from a relatively low modulus polyalkenamer rubber composition and at least one layer is made from a relatively high modulus polyalkenamer rubber composition. The rubber composition may further include other rubbers such as, for example, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber. The rubber composition helps improve resiliency of the core.
Abstract:
Multi-piece golf balls having at least one layer made from a polyamide non-ionomeric composition are provided. The polyamide composition consists essentially of about 40 to about 99% by weight polyamide; about 1 to about 60% by weight of an acid anhydride-modified polyolefin; and about 1 to about 60% of a fatty acid additive selected from the group consisting of fatty acid salts, fatty acid amides, and mixtures thereof. The ball includes a core, preferably a dual core construction; and a cover of at least one layer. In another preferred construction, a multi-layered core containing an inner, intermediate, and outer core layer is made. For example, the intermediate core layer may be made of a rubber composition; and each of the inner core and outer core layers may be made of the polyamide composition. The resulting ball has high resiliency along with a soft feel.
Abstract:
Golf balls having cores with negative hardness gradients are provided. The cores are made of polyalkenamer rubber compositions that may further include other rubbers such as, for example, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, and styrene-butadiene rubber. In one version, a solid, single core having an outer surface and center is provided, wherein the outer surface has a hardness substantially the same or lower than the hardness of the center to define a zero or negative hardness gradient. Dual-cores having inner and outer cores can be made, wherein the inner core has a negative hardness gradient and the outer core has a positive or negative hardness gradient. The rubber composition helps improve resiliency of the core and provides the ball with a comfortable and soft feel.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a method of making a neutralized non-ionomeric polymer composition (NNIPC) suitable for use in a golf ball component comprising the steps of: providing a non-acid copolymer composition (NACC); soaking the NACC in an organic acid to form a soaked non-acid copolymer composition (SNACC); providing a cation source in an amount sufficient to neutralize at least a portion of the organic acid; and melt processing the SNACC and cation source to form the NNIPC. The invention also relates to a method of making a golf ball incorporating the NNIPC made according to the inventive method and to the resulting golf ball.
Abstract:
Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core of at least one layer and cover of at least one layer are provided. At least one of the layers is formed from a thermoplastic polyamide composition, comprising a blend of polyamide, ethylene acid copolymer ionomer, fatty acid amide, and plasticizer. A polyamide having a transparent optical nature is preferably used in the composition. A fatty acid ester such as dipropylene glycol dibenzoate and propylene carbonate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The ball may contain an inner core and surrounding outer core layer. A rubber composition is preferably used to form the inner core and the polyamide-based composition is preferably used to form the outer core layer.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are heterogeneous golf ball compositions comprising discrete particles of crosslinked rubber dispersed within an acid copolymer-based matrix. Also disclosed herein are golf ball compositions comprising a silicone ionomer.